Skip to main content
DEAL WATCH: Up to 43% off Alexa devices $22.99

Snag this sale on Amazon's Echo devices in 12 sizes, colors, and versions. Read Review

BUY NOW
  • Series Information

  • Hardware & Software

  • Picture Quality

  • The Verdict

  • Contrast Ratio

  • Viewing Angle

  • Color Accuracy

  • Grayscale & RGB Balance

  • Gamma Curve

  • Series Information
  • Hardware & Software
  • Picture Quality
  • The Verdict
  • Contrast Ratio
  • Viewing Angle
  • Color Accuracy
  • Grayscale & RGB Balance
  • Gamma Curve

Really, for an entry-level TV, the 40-inch R510C is fairly unprecedented. Testing revealed incredible contrast for this price range, great color accuracy, and smooth motion performance. There are some features that picky viewers might miss having—like a 120 Hz refresh rate, or expanded color options—but as far as 1080p TVs go, this one deserves a ton of praise.

Getting an elegantly designed smart TV with performance like this for $450 is simply a great value, and owes much to 4K resolution's slow, steady march into the market. If you're on the fence about which resolution to pick, consider that the advantage of extra pixels is hardly appreciable from 32 to about 42 inches. A 4K option might be a better choice in larger sizes, but otherwise the KDL-40R510C will likely prove to be one of 2015's best values.

If saving money is your top priority, you could always hunt down Vizio's 40-inch E Series (2014 model) for about $100 less. Just keep in mind it doesn't boast quite the same level of performance and craftsmanship as this Sony.

Series Information

There are two sizes in the Sony KDL-R510C series

The R510C is available in 40 inches (model: Sony KDL-40R510C, MSRP: $499) and 48 inches (model: Sony KDL-48R510C, MSRP: $559). Our 40-inch sample unit was purchased new from Amazon retail and updated to the latest firmware and software before evaluation and testing.

Basic hardware and specs, including audio/video ports, are identical between the two sizes in the R510C series. Performance and test results should be very similar between both sizes too, though performance may vary slightly in backlight uniformity and motion performance.

Hardware & Software

This may be an entry-level model, but Sony didn't cut corners

The 40-inch R510C is affordable compared to Sony's more premium options, but it's not a bad-lookin' TV at all. A semi-malleable, rectangular stand supports the panel from below, melding into thin bezels that trace the perimeter and break only for the "Sony" insignia below the screen. There's also a small indicator light that arches out separately, complementing the hollow appearance of the stand.

Sony KDL-40R510C stand screen bezels
Credit: Reviewed.com / Lee Neikirk

The 40-inch R510C features thin black bezels and a hollow rectangular stand. The materials aren't the sturdiest that money can buy, but they're still finer than the average entry-level TV.

While the materials aren't the best we've seen, they're certainly a cut above the average entry-level TV. In fact, the R510C evokes a positively modern air via its slim profile and smooth rear casing. Back here, you'll find a smart arrangement of audio/video ports split into side and rear orientation. Side ports include one HDMI input, two USB 2.0 ports, and a hybrid audio out/headphones out jack. The rear ports add an additional HDMI input, shared component/composite jacks, an ethernet (LAN) connection, digital audio out, and a coaxial jack for cable/antenna connection.

{{ photo_gallery "design" }}

We'd like to have seen an option for three or even four HDMI inputs here, but it's a small complaint. Also included with the panel and stand is a simple, infrared Sony remote. It's a wide, comfortable clicker with an ample selection of hotkeys and modern standbys like play/pause buttons for the TV's built-in apps. Unlike more complex smart TVs, the R510C's app selection is simple enough that standard directional navigation is perfectly suitable.

Useful apps, but a menu with a steep learning curve.

The R510C doesn't give you Sony's new Android TV smart platform, but it's still a smart TV. Once you're online, you'll be able to access a handful of built-in apps like Netflix, Amazon Instant, YouTube, and the Opera TV store. Users can set favorite apps for quick access, but (in our opinion) the pre-installed apps easily trump most of what you'll find in the Opera store.

There's not much else here by way of smart features, but that isn't a bad thing at all. Sony does include a photo sharing option for devices connected on the same network, and of course you can still play back photos/music/videos from a connected USB 2.0 storage device, but otherwise the R510C is pretty plain.

Popular apps like Netflix and Amazon Instant Video are pre-installed and easy to access.

The menu/software interface is equally simple, though the minimalist white text and black backdrop hide ample customization options. In most picture modes, users will be able to adjust the basics like backlight, color, tint, and sharpness, as well as a few software enhancement options for dynamic contrast and backlight shuttering. It's worth noting that none of these options can be accessed in the TV's Cinema picture mode, so it's hard to know if they're on or off by default.

{{ photo_gallery "software" }}

The only issue we have here is one that seems to crop up every year: The interface is a little tricky to navigate. Accessing things like sound modes or picture options can be done in a variety of ways via different sub-menus, which can be frustrating when all you want to do is plop down and watch some Ice Road Truckers.

So if you're considering buying this TV for a less tech-savvy person—or are one yourself—be prepared to spend some time learning the ropes, or just stick with the default settings.

Picture Quality

Locked and loaded for a happy home theater

Last year, Sony's 2014 TVs impressed with the accuracy of their out-of-the-box performance. If you've got the know-how and proper equipment, many everyday TVs can be calibrated to meet the international standards for HDTV performance, but last year's Sony options were all surprisingly accurate without any tinkering. As we expected, the 40-inch R510C continues that tradition, providing an extremely rich, accurate picture simply by setting it to the Cinema mode pre-set.

Sony KDL-40R510C color performance
Credit: Reviewed.com / Lee Neikirk

The 40-inch R510C tested with very accurate HD color, promising ample color luminance without the loss of subtle details.

Are there drawbacks here? Naturally—but they're pretty negligible for most viewers. First of all, the R510C boasts a somewhat limited horizontal viewing angle, meaning it's not a super stellar choice if you're hoping to wall-mount your new TV for very wide/flexible viewing. Secondly, the TV's 60 Hz refresh rate may pose a couple of limitations on very fast-action content (like sports or the latest Mad Max movie), especially when compared to the performance of a native 120 Hz television.

Otherwise, the R510C is simply a terrific performer for the price. For one thing, this TV delivers some of the best contrast performance I've ever seen on a sub-$500 TV, with black levels that occasionally rival plasma televisions from a couple of years ago (again, in the Cinema pre-set). The only drawback is that the TV is naturally a bit dimmer in this mode. It's bright enough for a dim environment, but if you've got a lot of lights or windows you might want to consider using a different picture mode.

Credit: Reviewed.com / Lee Neikirk

This Blu-ray snapshot illustrates the R510C's solid contrast performance. Points of light are plenty bright, but shadow areas are truly dark alongside them.

I watched a lot of content on this Sony—from Comcast cable programming at 720p resolution, to a few of our in-house Blu-rays at full 1080p—and it all looked great. Colors are rich, white balance is almost perfect, and tricky skin tones look spot-on, too. Naturally, the R510C's performance isn't without a small amount of perceptible error, but it's close enough to perfect that even picky videophiles will be quite pleased.

The 40-inch R510C's beautifully strict adherence to HDTV color and white balance standards might not sound terribly exciting to the average viewer, but just know that it means almost any content you throw at this TV—cable, Blu-rays, DVDs, video games—is going to look exactly like it's supposed to, which is a departure from the usual hit-or-miss we see from many entry-level options.

To check out the Sony KDL-40R510C's full test results and data charts, check out the Science Page.

Sony KDL-40R510C cable performance
Credit: Reviewed.com / Lee Neikirk

Though not as high quality as a Blu-ray, 720p cable content like this still looks very good in Cinema mode—though it may lack some of the flash modern viewers are used to.

The Verdict

A stellar cinephile option for this price range

If you're looking for a top-shelf Full HD TV, the 40-inch R510C sits pretty high off the ground. This TV already delivers decent build quality and some useful apps, but where it truly shines is core performance. In this price range (less than $500) it's extremely rare to find a TV that's not only capable of a high-quality picture, but produces it in one of the default picture modes without any tinkering—but the R510C pulls it off.

You can find cheaper 40-inch TVs out there, but we're not sure the price difference is worth the cost to picture quality.

You can find cheaper 40-inch TVs out there, but we're not sure the price difference is worth the likely cost to build and picture quality. And considering that the Sony KDL-40W600B (an entry-level Sony from 2014) isn't much cheaper than the R510C, there's no reason not to invest in this newer 2015 option, especially if you're craving high-end performance on the cheap.

If you're interested in the 48-inch R510C, it might be worthwhile to wait on reviews of this year's 50-inch 4K options—despite how capable this TV is, it'll still be a bit outdated in two or three years. If 40 inches is your maximum size, however, we doubt you'll easily find better quality than this. The Sony KDL-40R510C is an excellent performer with few flaws, especially for the asking price. In Sony's Cinema mode (or "scene"), the TV proved to be very accurate and well-engineered, producing ample contrast results, spot-on color/grayscale matching, and standard gamma performance. Most TVs in this price range can accommodate such performance, but you'd have to pay for a professional calibration—a process that can cost almost as much as the TVs themselves.

Coincidentally, calibration—or lack thereof—is one of this Sony's only drawbacks. In the Cinema picture mode, you simply can't access any of the controls. Even simple settings like backlight, color, and contrast are barred. In fact, the entire "picture settings" menu is grayed out in Cinema mode, meaning you're stuck with the defaults. Fortunately, the default settings are very accurate.

Contrast Ratio

Contrast (and black level) are major keystones of video quality, and the R510C is a heavy hitter in that regard. I measured a black level of 0.018 cd/m2 alongside a reference white of 130.50 cd/m2 , giving the R510C an ANSI checkerboard contrast ratio of 7250:1, which is absolutely incredible in this price range. Further measurements saw some shift in black level depending on screen APL, with occasional measurements as low as 0.015 cd/m2 (in Cinema mode).

Sony KDL-40R510C contrast ratio chart

Viewing Angle

Our viewing angle test measures the horizontal viewing flexibility of a TV's screen. We measure full-field black/white screens from head on (0°) and move in 10° increments, increasing the angle of view until the TV's contrast ratio drops below 50% of its original head-on value (from full-field, not from ANSI). The KDL-40R510C performed with average results here: I measured a total viewing angle of 36°, or ±18° from the center to either side of the screen. This compares normally with other LED (LCD) TVs in this price and size range.

Sony KDL-40R510C viewing angle chart

Color Accuracy

A TV's color accuracy is not subjective: Exact coordinates (usually measured in x, y, and Y) of primary and secondary colors are compared to the international standards for a TV's given color target. The R510C is an HD (rather than a UHD) TV, so it aims for the BT.709 color space coordinates (as well as the standard D65 white point). The R510C performed very well here, boasting accurate primaries (red, green, and blue) and mostly accurate secondaries (cyan, magenta, and yellow). The white/gray point is supremely on-point, too, which is very rare in this price range.

Sony KDL-40R510C color gamut

Grayscale & RGB Balance

TVs produce grayscale elements—lighter blacks, dark, mid-, and light grays, and highlight elements—using a combination of their primary colors. According to standards, even emphasis of primary colors should result in grayscale elements that correlate to a color temperature of 6500K, with exact coordinates of x = 0.313, y = 0.329. When primary colors aren't emphasized evenly, perceptible errors in the grayscale arise, with collective error measured in deltaE.

A grayscale deltaE of 3 or less is ideal. By default, the R510C tested with a grayscale deltaE of 4.59, which is a little higher than ideal, but is still a good result for an out-of-the-box, uncalibrated measurement.

Sony KDL-40R510C grayscale deltaE

If we take a closer look at the primary color emphasis behind the R510C's grayscale production, we can see where some of the error stems from. The red, green, and blue lines will ideally each sit at 100% emphasis from 10 through 100 IRE—when one or two colors gets more or less emphasis, it creates visible error and tinting within grayscale elements. This isn't an extreme result at all, though, as all errors are contained within about 3% emphasis error (above or below 100%).

Sony KDL-40R510C RGB emphasis

Gamma Curve

In displays, gamma is a measurement of how luminance is allocated across the visible spectrum from the darkest black to the brightest (reference) white. While the ITU recently standardized HDTV gamma in a document called BT.1886, many TVs still adhere to power-law based gamma curves like 2.2, 2.3, or 2.4.

The R510C tested with a mostly flat gamma sum of 2.38, which is quite close to the 2.4 standard, which is ideal for very dim or totally dark rooms. This result really cements the R510C's status as a dark room/theater room TV, but means you probably don't want to use the Cinema picture mode if you're watching in a room with lots of competing ambient light.

Sony KDL-40R510C gamma sum

Meet the tester

Lee Neikirk

Lee Neikirk

Former Editor, Home Theater

@Koanshark

Lee was Reviewed's point person for most television and home theater products from 2012 until early 2022. Lee received Level II certification in TV calibration from the Imaging Science Foundation in 2013. As Editor of the Home Theater vertical, Lee oversaw reviews of TVs, monitors, soundbars, and Bluetooth speakers. He also reviewed headphones, and has a background in music performance.

See all of Lee Neikirk's reviews

Checking our work.

Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.

Shoot us an email

Up next